can i use a bluetooth mouse with ipad

ollien wrote:

The Ipad would be even nicer with mouse support, and there is nothing to lose in adding it.

You don't know that. Apps are currently not designed with mouse support in mind. Mouse actions you take for granted may not be available in iOS and would have to be added, or the user would not have the expected experience. For instance, a mouse drag works on selected objects, but on an iPad, a finger drag scrolls the screen. You'd have to use a mouse in a way that is not how it's used on Macs and PCs.

Going the other way, one of the reasons Flash doesn't work well is the lack of support for a "cursor hover" mode which you have with a mouse but not on a touchscreen. There are often subtle complications like this that are not obvious to most people.

Network 23 wrote:

You don't know that. Apps are currently not designed with mouse support in mind. Mouse actions you take for granted may not be available in iOS and would have to be added, or the user would not have the expected experience. For instance, a mouse drag works on selected objects, but on an iPad, a finger drag scrolls the screen. You'd have to use a mouse in a way that is not how it's used on Macs and PCs.

Oh, but I do know that. I've tried it! And it works good.

I don't expect the mouse to behave like it does on a PC or Mac. It's an iPad, and I expect an implementation that suits an iPad. I expect it to do simple things that are awkard to do via the touchscreen, at least once you have set up the iPad with a stand and keyboard (which they do support). And I absoultely don't expect a mouse to be useful for all apps, or that all apps should be designed with a mouse in mind. Some tasks, however, like text editing or operating a remotely connected machine is so much easier with a mouse. And this is for apps that are already available, they don't need to be adapted in any way.

Nobody here can give you mouse support. We are all just end users like yourself. Use the feedback links provided to tell Apple you bought a product despite it not having features you consider it should, and now you expect them to fix your mistake.

I know of one app / program that has mouse support for iphone and ipad however you still have to use your finger to move the mouse cursor.

I really also want to have a bluetooth mouse for this app... it's called LogMeIn from logmein.com.

I agree that not all apps may be capable of using a mouse however i think it's a feature that apple should seriously consider.

The nice thing with having a mouse for logmein is that you can work from any ware in the world on your home or work pc through your ipad or iphone by having a wifi / blutooth mouse or keyboard at almost the same speeds you would when sitting in front of the home or work pc.

As there is no bluetooth mouse, this task can be done with the finger however it is much slower to have your one finger do what a 4 finger mouse can do in the same given time.

Apple has probably considered it, but development is always about tradeoffs and deadlines, so it is possible that Apple decided there is another feature they would like to develop that has higher priority to complete.

Apple has probably considered it and said NO. Bluetooth mouse and keyboard on your ipad means cannibalizing sales on Mac notebooks. The same thing with bluetooth dialup networking... supporting that means you can tether your internet connection with your cellphone and hence you won't pay more money to AT&T. Both features are available on cydia.

I agree with u mosquitoguy. "Bluetooth mouse and keyboard on your ipad means cannibalizing sales on Mac notebooks." Seeing the new OS come out on Mac Airs shows this. They are getting the MacOS closer to IOS now, with apps, swiping and making a mouse have mulit touch gestures. It's obvious now Apple did not do this(mouse support on Ipad ) as it would harm there Mac Air sales big time. They are saying it without saying "need a mouse?" But buy a Mac Air. Do I like it? No. For us Ipad users, we have to spend another 1000 to get mouse support ( buy a Mac Air ) or force some to live in the jailbreak arena.

It has nothing to do with cannabalizing sales of Macbooks (Pro or Air), that is already occurring. It has everything to do with the touch screen interface and the lack of a pointer. Yes, you can bolt that on jailibreaking you iPad but the designers at Apple are looking for a pure touch screen GUI. And you have been able to tether the iPhone for internet access for over a year now but you have to have a HotSpot plan with AT&T. You don't have to with the Cydia method, which actually violates your agreement with AT&T and can be detected by them.

@skeezerweezer: they aren't saying if you want a mouse buy a MacBook Air, they are saying that the iPad is an iOS device and a full touch screen interface, OS X is a trackpad, mouse pointer interface. Choose which one you need.

"And you have been able to tether the iPhone for internet access for over a year now but you have to have a HotSpot plan with AT&T."

What does that have to do with enabling the Ipad to use a mouse?

"they are saying that the iPad is an iOS device and a full touch screen interface, OS X is a trackpad, mouse pointer interface."

Errr.. then why is the Lion looking going more and more to an IOS interface with Mouse with emulating mutil touch gestures? Don't get your point. IN the end you say chosse which one you need, I need the Ipad with a mouse. Perfection for us who Remote into Desktops and Servers to Work.....

If you want to use a mouse, get a macbook air, that is the whole point of I pad and touch screen.

"designers at Apple are looking for a pure touch screen GUI."

Then why did THEY design it to work with a Bluetooth keyboard? It has a "Multi touch" Keyboard, no? Just sayin.....

Also its easy to say to those "buy a Macbook" or "Mac Air" when a lot of us already own and love the Ipad. Adding the mouse support would make it Perfect for some of us who really want to use it for more than a mutimedia and reading machine. Oh wait....how would that effect the 11" Mac Air?

Sorry, meant to reply to the post before yours. The first paragraph was intended for mosquitoguy, he mentioned tethering.

Yes, Lion has moved closer to iOS (much to a lot of people's chagrin if you take a glance at the Lion forum) and has trackpad gestures, which people with a mouse are complaining about. But it is still an interface built aroung a pointer and is not yet touchscreen, and is perfection for those who Remote into Desktops and Servers to Work.

The iPad was not designed for this function and I doubt it had any bearing on the engineers design. I also doubt there are millions using it for this purpose. You can buy other tablets that can use mice for this purpose, or you can jailbreak. You can also send feedback to Apple requesting it.

@deggie

I tether my iPad to my Blackberry on T-Mobile over bluetooth. AT&T has nothing to do with it. The fact that you think AT&T is your only choice is what Apple wants you to believe since they share revenue with AT&T.

I don't really care who you tether with, just pointing out it can be done. I do not think AT&T is the only option, you can also use a Verizon, Sprint, Virgin or Clear MiFi, etc. Of course if approved you BB T-Mobile will be part of AT&T anyway.

You need to keep up with current events. Apple has not shared monthly service revenue with AT&T since the original 2G iPhone. Revenue sharing ended in June 2008 with the release of the subsidized iPhone 3G.

@deggie

Gee, so you're just repeating what I already said (you can tether) and I don't see what your point is.

I'm not talking about iphone 3g revenue sharing. I'm talking about the fact that the Apple store pimps AT&T's plan for enabling 3G access on your ipad. if you believe Apple doesn't get any money for that, you keep on believing that... I have a bridge for sale.